File No. 2151/65. The Secretary of State to the French Chargé. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 24, 1907. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 15th instant announcing, with regard to existing conditions in Morocco, that your Government, with that of Spain, is about to arrange for the temporary, but immediate, organization of the Moorish police, this measure appearing essential to the efficient protection in Morocco of foreign life and interests, particularly in view of the declaration made by the Shereefian minister of war, in response to a note addressed to him by the representatives of France and Spain at Tangier, that he is unable to give official or personal assurance that he holds sufficient powers to organize the police or guarantee the faithfulness or discipline of the force assembled by him or the safety of its instructors. Accept, etc., ELIHU ROOT. NETHERLANDS.. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE EXEMPTION OF HOSPITAL SHIPS FROM THE PAYMENT OF ALL USUAL PORT DUES AND TAXES. The Netherlands Minister to the Secretary of State. [Translation.] ROYAL LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS, Washington, October 13, 1904. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the convention signed at The Hague on July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention to maritime warfare have, as Your Excellency is aware, defined the conditions under which hospital ships are permitted to fulfill in time of war their humane mission. With a view to facilitating this task and reducing its cost as far as practicable, the Government of the French Republic has taken the initiative of a proposition looking to the exemption, by means of an internatinal agreement, from the payment of all dues and taxes usually collected in ports for hospital ships filled out under the abovementioned conditions, and to that end has asked the Government of Her Majesty the Queen to call a meeting of delagates of the powers signatory to the international act of 1899. The cabinet of The Hague, glad to cooperate in the adoption of an eminently beneficent and useful measure, has decided to join in the action of the French Government. I am, in consequence, instructed by the minister of foreign affairs at The Hague, by order of Her Majesty the Queen, to invite the Government of the United States of America to be represented by one or more plenipotentiaries at the conference that will meet at The Hague during the month of December next and the date of which will be fixed later. Your Excellency will find herewith a copy of a draft of a convention which seems likely to supply a basis for the deliberations of the forthcoming meeting. While thus complying with my instructions, I venture to add that I hope Your Excellency will kindly let me know, at your earliest convenience, what reception will be given to this invitation by the Cabinet of Washington. Be pleased, etc., VAN SWINDEREN. [Inclosure.] DRAFT OF CONVENTION. The undersigned, plenipotentiaries of the powers signatory to the convention concluded at The Hague on July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention of August 22, 1864, to maritime warfare, duly authorized to that effect by their respective governments. Considering that articles 1, 2, and 3 of the first-named convention have sanctioned the principle of the intervention of the Red Cross in naval wars through the neutralization of relief ships: Have agreed on the following provisions: SOLE ARTICLE. The hospital ships mentioned in articles 1, 2, and 3 of the convention of July 29, 1899, for the adaptation of the principles of the Geneva convention of August 22, 1864, and who should have received an official commission to that effect from their Governments and whose names should have been notified in advance to the contracting powers shall be exempted in the ports of the said powers, in time of war, from the payment of all dues and taxes except those that are established for the use of the various services of the ports, such as pilotage dues. The said ships shall be subject to the visitation and supervision provided by the laws and regulations of the place for the prevention of the transportation of contraband of war. No. 19.] The Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 22, 1904. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your note of the 13th instant inviting this Government to be represented at a conference looking to the exemption, by means of an international agreement, of hospital ships from payment of all usual port dues and taxes, to be held at The Hague, in December next, between the powers signatory to The Hague convention of July 29, 1899; and submitting a draft of a convention as a basis for the deliberations of the proposed conference. In acknowledgment of your Government's action, I beg leave to express my appreciation and to say that the subject is receiving this Government's consideration, the result of which will be communicated to you at an early date. Accept, etc., No. 27.] JOHN HAY. The Secretary of State to the Netherlands Chargé. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 19, 1904. SIR: In further reply to your note of the 13th ultimo, extending an invitation to this Government to join in a conference of delegates of the powers signatories to the international act of July 29, 1899, which conference is to be held at The Hague sometime during the coming month, with a view to the exemption by means of an international agreement of Red Cross hospital vessels from the payment of taxes and port dues, pilotage excepted, in time of war, I have the honor and the pleasure to accept the invitation so courteously extended by the Government of Her Majesty the Queen, and in connection therewith beg leave to advise you that the American chargé d'affaires ad interim at The Hague has been instructed to attend the conference and to sign the proposed convention, for which purpose full powers have been sent him. Accept, sir, etc., JOHN HAY. No. 31.] The Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 24, 1905. SIR: Referring to your note of the 20th ultimo," I have the honor to inform you that the Senate, by its resolution of February 21, 1905, gave its advice and consent to the ratification of the convention signed at The Hague on December 20, 1904, by the plenipotentiaries of the United States and other powers, providing for the exemption of hospital ships in time of war from the payment of all dues and taxes imposed for the benefit of the State. As the names of the signatory powers and of their plenipotentiaries will not be inserted in the convention until October 1, 1905, until which day the convention will remain open for signature, the President's ratification of the convention will await the receipt of the completed instrument. Accept, etc., No. 48.] JOHN HAY. The Netherlands Minister to the Secretary of State. ROYAL LEGATION OF THE NETHERLANDS, Washington, January 23, 1906. MR. SECRETARY OF STATE: By order of my Government, I have the honor to transmit herewith to Your Excellency: (1) Two authenticated copies (one under article 6 of the convention, the other to be used as the instrument of ratification), together with two nonauthenticated copies of the convention concerning hospital ships, signed at The Hague on December 21, 1904; (2) an authenticated copy, together with a nonauthenticated copy, of the final act bearing the same date. The minister of foreign affairs instructs me at the same time to advise Your Excellency that thus far no adhesions have been declared to this convention, of which several of the signatory States are ready to deposit their instruments of ratification. The Government of the Queen, however, is of opinion that it would be desirable not to effect the deposit of said instruments until the majority of the States signatories to the convention is in position to join in this first deposit. Thus complying with the foregoing instructions, I embrace this opportunity to renew, etc., No. 67.] VAN SWINDEREN. The Secretary of State to the Netherlands Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 7, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 23d ultimo transmitting authenticated and nonauthenticated copies of the convention concerning hospital ships, signed at The Hague on December 21, 1904, and of the final act bearing the same a Not printed. Inclosures not printed. date. You inform me of the advice you have received from your Government that no adhesions have been declared to this convention of which several of the signatory States are ready to deposit their instruments of ratification, and that the Government of the Queen is of opinion that it would be desirable not to effect the deposit of the said instruments until the majority of the States signatories to the convention are in a position to join in this first deposit. As you were informed by this department's note of February 24, 1905, the Senate, by its resolution of the 21st of the same month, gave its advice and consent to the ratification of this convention. In view of the wish of your Government, as expressed above, the President's ratification will be deferred until you shall have informed this department that the Government of the Netherlands is ready to receive the deposit thereof. Should the enactment by Congress of a law to exempt the hospital ships from federal dues be found necessary, the President's ratification will be made subject to such enactment. Accept, etc. ELIHU ROOT. CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CERTAIN OTHER POWERS FOR THE EXEMPTION OF HOSPITAL SHIPS, IN TIME OF WAR, FROM THE PAYMENT OF ALL DUES AND TAXES IMPOSED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STATE. Signed at The Hague December 21, 1904. Ratification advised by the Senate February 21, 1905. Ratified by the President October 16, 1906. Ratification deposited at The Hague March 26, 1907. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas a Convention providing for the exemption of Hospital Ships in time of war from the payment of all dues and taxes imposed for the benefit of the State was signed at The Hague on December 21, 1904, by the Plenipotentiaries of the United States of America, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, China, Korea, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Peru, Persia, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Siam, and Switzerland, the original of which Convention in the French language is word for word as follows: [Translation.] CONVENTION REGARDING HOSPITAL SHIPS. His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia; His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, etc., etc., and Apostolical King of Hungary; His Majesty the King of the Belgians; His Majesty the Emperor of China; His Majesty the Emperor of Corea; His Majesty the King of Denmark; His Majesty the King of Spain; the President of the United States of America; the Presi |